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CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

  

 

train enters the ravine, where the bluffs as-
sume more formidable features; in fact,
the ravine becomes a gorge, the rugged
spurs shooting out as though they would
reach the opposite wall, and bar out farther
progress. ‘The first one of these spurs does
indeed bar our way, or did until a tunnel
was completed. Before this tunnel was
finished, the company laid the road around
the point of the spur on a temporary track.
Emerging from the tunnel, the train rushes
down the gorge, the wall now rising close,
abrupt and high, on either hand,.and 17 8-10
miles from St. Mary’s we arrive at and
pass

W olecot’s—an unimportant station.
Down, down we go—the rough spurs
point out from either wall of the canyon,
an indenture in one bank marking a pro-
jection on the other. While looking on
this scene, one cannot help fancying that
one time this chasm was not; that some
fearful convulsion of nature rent the
mighty rocks in twain, leaving these rag-

ed walls and fetid pools to attest the fact.

uddenly we whirl out of the mouth of
this chasm—out on the level lands of the
North Platte River—cross a substantial
wooden bridge, and stop at

Fort Fred, Steele—5 810 miles
west of Wolcot’s; elevation, 6,840 feet.

This fort was established June 30th,
1868, by four companies of the 30th In-
fantry, under command of Brevet Col. R.
I. Dodge, Major 30th Infantry. When the
posts in the Powder River country were
abandoned, the great bulk of the military
stores were hauled to this place and stored
for future use.

About two miles west of Fort Steele
formerly stood

Benron Crry—now entirely abandoned.
The road was completed to this point the
last. of July, 1868. At that time a large
amount of freight for Montana, Idaho,
Utah, and the western country was re-
shipped in wagons at this point, and dur-
ing August and September the place pre-
sented a lively aspect, which continued
until the road was finished to Bryan, the
first of October. Benton at that time was
composed of canvas tents; about 3,000 peo-
ple of all kinds made the population; a

harder set it would be impossible to find— |

roughs, thieves, petty gamblers (the same
thing), fast women, and the usual accom-
paniments of the railroad towns, flourished
here in profusion. There were high old

times in Benton then, but as the road

|

stretched away to the westward, the people
“packed up their tents and stole noiselessly
away,” leaving only a few old chimneys
and post-holes to mark the spot of the once
flourishing town. Whiskey was the prin-
cipal drink of the citizens, it being the
most convenient, as all the water used had
to be hauled from the Platte River, two
miles distant, at an expense of one dollar
per barrel, or ten cents per bucket-full.

At Benton, the bluffs which mark the
entrance to the canyon of the Platte near
Fort Steele, are plainly visible and will
continue in sight until we near Rawlins.
They are of gray sandstone, worn, marked
by the waters or by the elements, far up
their perpendicular sides. They are on the
opposite side of the river, the banks on the
west side being comparatively low.

At this point the river makes a bend, and
for several miles we seem to be running
down the river, parallel with it, though
really drawing away from the stream.

To the south is a long, high ridge of
grey granite, called the “Hog Back.” It
is about four miles.away from the road,
and runs parallel with it for about 15
miles, terminating in the highlands of
Rawlins Springs. It is very narrow at the
base, not exceeding half-a-mile in width,
eg it rises from 1,000 to 3,000 feet high.

he ridge is so sharp that cattle cannot be

   

  

 

driven across it,and in many places it is |

all but impracticable for a man to,attempt to
walk along its summit. Where this ridge
reaches the river bank, about two and a
half miles above the bridge, the walls are
perpendicular and very high, from 1,000 to
1,500 feet. A corresponding bluff on the
opposite side shows that the river has cut a
channel through this ridge, which at one
time barred the progress of the waters.

On the south side of the ridge is a very
pretty little valley, through which flows a
small creek into the Platte. It furnishes
fine grazing, and is in marked contrast to
the surrounding country.

Many years ago this green and peaceful
looking vale was the scene of a fearful bat-
tle between the Sioux and their inveterate
enemies, the Utes. The Sioux were encamped
in the valley, and were surprised by the

Utes, who stole on them in the grey light.

of the morning, and attacked them furi-
ously. Though taken by surprise, the
Sioux fought bravely, but were surrounded
and overpowered. When trying to escape,
they essayed to cross the “Hog Back,”
but every one who raised his head above